The Bunker

While writing his latest #MeToo-related story, Ronan Farrow reaches out to a wealthy and histrionic aging beauty queen who’s made allegations against a powerful politician. As he tries to decide whether CeCe Doane is a credible source, he learns the woman is connected to a jewel heist, an arson, and murder attempts on two husbands. Intrigued by the colorful figure, Farrow switches his focus to CeCe’s life story and the cold cases attached to her. What he discovers is a complicated woman shaped by drama of her own making, whose truths don’t neatly fit with reality.From Audible Original and Neon Hum comes “Not a Very Good Murderer.” Farrow combines true crime and character study as he tries to learn what’s real and what CeCe wants him to think is real. What begins as an exercise in journalistic due diligence turns into an exploration of nefarious deeds, substance abuse, family dysfunction, and political extremism.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "NOT A VERY GOOD MURDERER" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.In Crime of the Week: roo'd awakening.  For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

19 Maj 44min

When Jeremy Scott confessed that he - and not Leo Schofield - murdered Michelle Schofield in 1987, the state of Florida refused to believe him. Journalist Gilbert King’s quest to exonerate Leo drew him closer into Jeremy’s background and the family who drifted away from him. Convinced the key to clearing Leo’s name included proving Jeremy’s involvement in a separate unsolved murder, King doubled down on his investigation, turning up new leads. But the effort brought King new understanding of the convict as he takes stock of his life and contemplates the consequences of his actions. In season two of the critically acclaimed podcast series “Bone Valley” from  Lava for Good and Signal Co. 1, King focuses on the man responsible for Leo’s wrongful conviction and develops an unlikely connection. He also works as a kind of advocate for Jeremy, working to set the record straight about his many crimes and do right by the many people he’s hurt - including Leo Schofield.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "BONE VALLEY" SEASON TWO BEGIN IN THE FINAL TEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

15 Maj 46min

TV make-up artist Melissa Reed is trying to keep a family secret: her father is the infamous Happy Face Killer. But Keith Hunter Jesperson lures her back into his life with a startling confession: a man in Texas is about to be executed for a murder he committed.  Melissa and a TV producer look for evidence Jesperson killed Heather Richmond to exonerate her boyfriend, Elijah. While those around the Reed family grow increasingly fascinated by their ties to a serial killer, Melissa struggles with what the crimes of her father say about her.Annaleigh Ashford and Dennis Quaid star in “Happy Face” from Showtime and Paramount +. The series is inspired by the podcast of the same name, but takes its reimagined characters into a fictional murder mystery. It also attempts to make a statement about our attraction to true crime and the lingering trauma of victims and their families.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF SHOWTIME'S "HAPPY FACE" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 9 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.In Crime of the Week: I'm a sucker for you. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

12 Maj 43min

When he was 14, “Gareth” began a sexual relationship with his attractive science teacher at his North London school. Students spread rumors and adults minimized the gravity of the relationship, saying Gareth had lived out every teen’s fantasy of sleeping with an older woman. After struggling with his emotions and mental health for thirty-five years, Gareth came to realize Sally-Anne Bowen wasn’t his girlfriend - she was his abuser. But his quest to get justice is hampered by those who don't view him as the victim of teen sexual abuse, but as a lucky boy.The four-part podcast “Lucky Boy” from Tortoise Media explores how the explicit encounters began, the consequences of their discovery, and Gareth’s attempts to make sense of his life. Host Chloe Hadjimatheou searches for other victims of Bowen while asking why our perception of sexual abuse is different when the perpetrator is an alluring woman and the victim is an adolescent boy. OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "LUCKY BOY" BEGIN IN THE FINAL NINE MINUTES OF THE PODCAST. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

8 Maj 44min

The Barnett family agrees to a hasty adoption of a seven-year-old girl from Ukraine who has dwarfism and other disabilities. But her paperwork is suspiciously incomplete, and Kristine and Michael grow worried about Natalia Grace’s menacing behavior. They come to a shocking conclusion: she’s really an adult impersonating a child. After a court “re-ages” her, the Barnett’s move Natalia into her own apartment where she seems ill-equipped to live on her own. Then a cop suspects the real scammers may be the Barnetts, who found an elaborate way to dump a special needs child they didn’t want to care for.   Ellen Pompeo, Mark Duplass, and Imogen Faith Reid star in Hulu’s “Good American Family,” inspired by the story behind the documentary “The Curious Case of Natalia Grace.” The scripted series shifts from quasi-horror film to emotional drama, leaving viewers to ponder the motives of who is lying about Natalia’s true identity and the horrifying implications of that lie for the people involved. OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "GOOD AMERICAN FAMILY" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 13 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.In Crime of the Week: Baby, you can steal my car. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

5 Maj 51min

The celebrity event of the year was the White Party, where stars would gather at the East Hampton mansion of hip hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs. But when most of the crowd went home, others would stay for what Combs called the “freak-off,” a drug-fueled sex party secretly filmed for the musician’s benefit. When his longtime girlfriend, the singer Cassie, sued him for rape, Diddy quickly settled the case. But details in the filings piqued the interest of authorities, who began to investigate whether his many private parties were consensual soirees or illegal sex trafficking.From 20/20 and ABC Audio comes “Bad Rap: The Case Against Diddy.” Host Brian Buckmire recounts how Combs went from hip hop star to defendant. The six episodes is a prologue to the podcast’s plans for twice a week episodes once Combs goes on trial for sex trafficking, kidnapping, bribery, and arson. OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "BAD RAP" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 10 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

1 Maj 47min

While living in Canada, Desirrê becomes a follower of Kat Torres, a fellow Brazilian and online life coach. The social media star says she has mystical powers and dispenses advice to her audience. But as Kat’s influence over Desirrê grows, her friend Paty notices changes in her behavior. Years later, Paty learns Desirrê is among several women who’ve left their life behind to move to the US with Kat. And as the influencer’s behavior grows more bizarre, she forces Desirrê and others around her into prostitution. Season two of the Wondery podcast “Guru: Don’t Cross Kat” recounts the rise and fall of Kat Torres, from model to life coach to international sex trafficker. Brazilian journalist Chico Felitti updates his Portuguese language podcast on the case, interviewing people on two continents to explain how one glamorous influencer could go so far to control her followers.  OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "DON'T CROSS KAT" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 14 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.In Crime of the Week: coming around the home stretch. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

28 Apr 40min

Party boy Danny Garcia was a con artist who drained the bank accounts of his friends and lovers. Kaushal Niroula passed himself off as a member of the Nepalese royal family. Together they posed as bankers, art dealers, and real estate developers to dupe investors, each scam more outrageous than the last.  When the so-called “Gay Grifters” set their sights on Palm Springs socialite Cliff Lambert, they graduated from fraud to bloodshed. They drained Lambert’s accounts and liquidated his property after killing him in his own home.“True Crime News Presents: American Hustlers” traces Niroula and Garcia’s journey from con men to killers. Hosts Kim Kanter and Julie Golden recount their increasingly audacious swindles and the one crime they couldn’t trick their way out of. OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "AMERICAN HUSTLERS" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

24 Apr 42min